A survey of Middle English lyrics, romances, dream visions, debate poems, mystery and morality plays, and other philosophical and biographical treatises, from 1250-1500. Focusing on the "invention of subjectivity" at a time when the vernacular came to flourish, this graduate seminar will trace the development of various genres by investigating the intersection of the literary with the philosophical and humanist. A hypertext edition of Chaucer's Book of the Duchess will allow students to compare different manuscript versions of the poem and to examine its sources for influence.

SYLLABUS

(All prices according to amazon.com; the books--ordered 10/21/99--are not all in at the Rice Campus Store as of 1/14/00, including the first two required readings, and won't be before Tuesday, first day of class; please read them at the Reserve Room or contact Dr. Chance ASAP)

Week 1. Introduction to Middle English Literature: The Invention of Subjectivity

Mar. 23 The Grave, The Soul's Address to the Body. A Dialogue between the Body abd the Soul, A Debate between the Body and the Soul (Conlee, pp. 3-62)

Mar. 28 Winner and Waster, Parlement of the Thre Ages, Death and Life (Conlee, pp. 63-166)

Mar. 30 Spring Recess

Apr. 4 A Disputation between a Christian and A Jew; A Dialogue between the Part Sensitive and the Part Intellective, The Thrush and the Nightingale, The Cuckoo and the Nightingale (Conlee, pp. 178-199, 237-265)

Apr. 25 The Creation, and the Fall of Lucifer (York), The Creation of Adam and Eve (York), The Fall of Man (York), Cain and Abel (York), Noah's Flood (Chester), Abraham and Isaac (Brome), The Annunciation (Coventry), The Second Shepherd's Play (Wakefield), pp. 1-108

Apr. 27 Herod the Great (Wakefield), Woman Taken in Adultery (N. town), The Crucifixion (York), The Harrowing of Hell (Chester), The Resurrection (York), The Judgment (York), Everyman, The Death of Pilate (Cornish), pp. 109-263

Requirements: 3 Exams, or 3-8 Short Papers (3 papers, 5-8 pp. each, or 8 notes, 2-3 pp. each), or 1 Seminar Paper (15-25 pp.), your choice; and book report (3-5 pp.) on Women's Writing in English. You decide how you can best use your time and the course to best advantage, given your own schedules, needs, and desires.